Penang-born hotelier Christopher Ong’s third hotel started life in the 19th century as a stables and coach house for carriages serving George Town’s wealthy Chinese families, many of whom resided on Muntri Street.
The two-story clapboard building was brought back to life with a cream-and-charcoal exterior and nine simple (and well- priced) whitewashed suites finished with four-poster beds, Art Deco accents, and quirky details like tea trays from 1960s Penang. In keeping with Ong’s push to cut plastics from his hotels, there are no minibars or bottled water in the rooms, though flasks of purified water are supplied. A roadside café serves local street-food dishes such as rich beef rendang and creamy lemak laksa.
The afternoon tea service is also a treat, featuring home-cooked Peranakan desserts presented on antique crockery. Try the pulut inti, made from steamed blue pea flower and glutinous rice, or the kuih ketayap (pandan-flavored crepes).
77 Muntri St.; 60-4/263-5125; muntrimews.com; doubles from US$95
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